Design Before Disaster

Models of disaster preparedness Across the globe, few sites have faced as many environmental disasters as the islands of the Japanese archipelago. They have endured typhoons, cyclones, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. Residents of Japan have responded to their precarious circumstances by developing a unique culture of disaster preparedness, known asbsai, one that has become embedded in everyday life. It has equipped the island nation to plan for future emergencies and to greatly reduce their impact. In this practical, engaging text, Miho Mazereeuwwho has carried out ethnographic fieldwork and space-based analysis for more than two decadesoffers a detailed framework to design and prepare for anticipated disasters and describes effective interventions in urban landscape and architecture. An urgent and timely book,Design Before Disasterrepresents the cutting edge in disaster mitigation and adaptation to empower communities in the worlds most vulnerable places. Publication of this volume was assisted by a grant from Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund.